BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Delia Johnson, Alaina Kinsal and Abbie Roach each drove in three runs, while pitcher Madi Mitzel held visiting Bradford to three hits in the Keystone Heights High School softball team’s 15-0, four-inning win on April 11.
Bradford (9-5) threatened to score first when leadoff batter Rylie Blankenship reached on a single in the top of the first. Blankenship, who went 2 for 2, advanced to third on Allie Funderburk’s sacrifice bunt. She was left stranded there as Mitzel forced two straight ground outs.
The Keystone batters were hot from the start, with the Indians (9-7) pushing four runs across in the first inning. With Emma Rogel and Roach on by a single and a walk, respectively, Kinsal hit a ground ball to second baseman Cassidy Spratlin that allowed Rogel to score. After a walk by Kiley Channell, Mitzel hit a line-drive single into left field that scored Roach. One out later, Johnson hit a line drive into left that scored Channell and courtesy runner Amberlea Wagner.
With the score later 6-0, the Tornadoes put two on with no outs in the top of the fourth. Takeirra Bakken drew a walk, followed by Masey Padgett hitting a single. Spratlin’s sacrifice put both runners in scoring position, but shortstop Channell recorded two straight outs on a pop-up and a ground ball.
Keystone, which has now won five straight, scored nine runs in the bottom of the inning to enforce the mercy rule. Rogel and Roach reached on a single and a double, respectively, before Kinsal hit a fly ball and reached on an error, which scored Rogel. Roach later scored on a passed ball, while Kinsal scored on a double by Channell. Mitzel followed with an RBI single. Kinley Carlton reached on an error before Johnson and Saige Dennis each hit an RBI single. Two outs later, Roach hit a two-run double, while Kinsal ended the game with run-scoring single.
Johnson and Roach each went 3 for 3, with Roach hitting two doubles. Rogel went 2 for 2, while Mitzel and Kinsal went 2 for 3 and 2 for 4, respectively. Mitzel had two RBI.
Channell and Dennis each had one RBI.
Mitzel pitched all four innings, giving up just one walk, while striking out two.
The Indians played Ridgeview this past Tuesday night and will travel to play Creekside on Thursday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Keystone returns home to play Interlachen on Tuesday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m.
Bradford played Lake Weir this past Tuesday and will host Orange Park on Thursday, April 14, at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes host St. Johns Country Day on Monday, April 18, at 7 p.m. before traveling to play Columbia on Tuesday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m.
Keystone entered the Bradford game off a 2-0 week that saw the Indians defeat visiting Oakleaf 11-1 on April 5 and host Middleburg 3-0 on April 7.
Against Oakleaf, Roach drove in a run on a sacrifice fly as part of a two-run third inning, which put the Indians ahead 3-1.
That’s how the score stood before Keystone pushed seven runs across in the fifth. A walk by Dennis and singles by Robinson and Rogel loaded the bases. Roach ground into a fielder’s choice to score Dennis, while an error allowed Robinson to score and Roach to reach safely. Kinsal followed with a two-run double. Channell reached on an error before Carlton hit a three-run homer over the fence in left.
Carlton went 2 for 3 with four RBI overall, while Robinson and Rogel went 2 for 2 and 2 for 4, respectively. Kinsal and Roach each had two RBI, while Mitzel had one.
Caitlyn Frampton pitched a complete game, giving up four hits.
The game against Middleburg was a duel between pitchers Mitzel and Mallory Forrester. Keystone had just three hits against Forrester, but Rogel drew three walks against her and scored twice.
Rogel drew a walk to lead off the game and after steals of second and third, scored on Kinsal’s sacrifice fly. In the third inning, Rogel walked with two outs. She advanced on a Roach single and then stole third. She scored on a passed ball.
Kinsal, who went 2 for 2, hit a double, stole third and scored on a passed ball in the fourth.
In the circle, Mitzel gave up eight hits and just one walk, striking out six.
